The quadrennial athletic games called the Olympics, now going on in Vancouver, British Columbia, originated st the site of Olympia, Greece during the first millennium BC. After the Greeks, the Romans took up the games; but in the 4th century AD, the games were abolished as pagan rituals by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian.
Stadium entrance, Olympia, Greece. Photo by Aschwin Prein
Interest in the Olympics picked up again the early 19th century, when archaeological excavations began at the archaeological ruins of Olympia. The extensive excavations of Ernst Curtius in the latter part of the 19th century exposed the stadium, baths and gymnasium along with temples and villas of the residents.
- Olympia Walking Tour
- Olympia, Greece
- FAQ on Olympic History (About.com's Guide to Ancient History)
- History of the Olympics (About.com's Guide to 20th Century History)
- Guide to the Olympic Games
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